How can the SAAS developers do it?  There are two answers.  First, the SAAS developers control the software and the hardware.  In a hosted environment, the developer can make instant improvements.  There is no need to wait for the “long-tail” of users to upgrade; no need to support multiple platforms, legacy software and legacy hardware.  The host is the platform.  And that makes the SAAS developers much more nimble. 

The second reason, perhaps, is more significant.  And that is the pricing model.  SAAS is “cheap” on the start-up, and expensive in the long run.  It is very easy and cheap to get started with Credenza, RocketMatter, Clio and AdvologixPM.  Once you have signed on, you will keep paying so long as you use the platform.  That means that there will be ever-increasing revenue for the SAAS developer so long as it continues to innovate; with the more innovation leading to more sales, and further increases in revenue. This is a “win-win” situation.  The SAAS developer wins by the “monthly” vote by the end-user paying their fee.  The user wins by having that vote courted with constant innovation.  By contrast, the up-front software sale with nominal maintenance produces a “disincentive” to constant innovation; once you reach market saturation in your segment, the revenue actually decreases. 

Disclosure: I am an independent document assembly specialist.  That said.  I am in the business of building document assembly systems.  In the process, I resell software and do collect (depending on vendor arrangements) commissions on those sales.  I currently am a partner with Business Integrity, and thus, if I am engaged to do consulting using ContractExpress, and my client signs up for ContractExpress, I will get a commission

Back to ContractExpress.  Several years ago I reviewed DealBuilder for Technolawyer.  A copy of that review is on my website and LinkedIn profile.  Two years ago, I previewed a version of DealBuilder in London during a trip there, the version that has become ContractExpress.  ContractExpress is a fully powered system that supports all you would expect from a document assembly engine.  What is exciting about ConractExpress is that the power is “hidden” behind a vastly simplified interface.  The interface just works.  It allows incredibly rapid template development.  Between the ContractExpress “ribbon” in Word 2007 and the task panel list of components, you can do all your development without ever leaving your word processor.

Microsoft Removes Custom XML Code from Office: D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus Discontinued

Downers Grove, IL – January 27, 2010 Microsystems announced it will discontinue development of D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus as a result of Microsoft’s decision to remove Custom XML code from Office. Microsoft made this decision following the ruling from the i4i infringement lawsuit.  DocXtools, Microsystems’ core product, is not affected by this decision.

Although D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus offered distinct competitive advantages and benefited from strong client demand and adoption, a significant portion of the functionality in both products was rendered inoperable in versions of Microsoft Office sold after January 10, 2010.

Microsystems evaluated various alternatives including redeveloping both products, but determined a feature equivalency could not be attained with the technologies and methodologies available today and the development work would likely result in an overall inferior solution for customers. In addition, it would require that little if any resources could be used to focus on our core product, DocXtools. Furthermore, no acceptable transition between existing D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus solutions and any new technology exists. This result would have imposed considerable migration issues on our customers.

Last year, DocXtools accounted for over 85% of Microsystems revenue. In contrast, licenses of D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus accounted for approximately 10% of revenue. As a result of these changes, development, sales and support staff related to D3 and Legal TemplatesPlus were reduced. Moving forward, DocXtools is supported by 45 people; 35 of those positions are comprised of development, support and document experts.

“Certainly we are disappointed about the difficult decision we had to make, but we are also energized by the ongoing success of DocXtools, a product that has been in the market for 11 years. In 2009, we added many new DocXtools customers and 93 customers entered into new or extended license agreements. In 2010 we expect to continue to grow our 249 firm install base as more organizations strive to improve efficiency and client service by deploying new DocXtools functionality out to lawyers and secretaries.” said Tom O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer.

A good programmer, like a good document consultant is not conversant in a single language. Who ever heard of a “good” Visual Basic programmer, who was not also conversant in C##, .NET, and PHP?  Limiting yourself to a single language for solutions will not result in a good fit.  Many solutions require a blending of languages, as when I blend a VB macro into a document assembly solution, or extend the help text in a web-based interview with javascript rules, even with dynamic prompts and option sets that call on custom functions outside the core document assembly engine.  Moreover, the expertise and approaches in one language are transferable to other languages.  Syntax and variable naming conventions that come from an object-oriented programming language like GhostFill can be adapted to HotDocs, Exari, DealBuilder/ContractExpress, and XpressDox. 

The same document assembly syntax naming conventions can be used to manage merge templates for grabbing data out of Time Matters, Amicus Attorney and Advologix.  Only by exposing yourself to all these platforms can a consultant develop the breadth of knowledge and approaches to best serve clients.  There is real benefit to the client from this broad-based knowledge.  Regardless of the platform ultimately chosen, a “liberal arts” educated program will be able to build a powerful solution, exploiting the full power of the chosen platform.

The implications of his breakthroughs, and whether they are “ready for market” can be debated. But you need to see these videos to regain the “gee wiz” about computers. He gives new meaning to “gestures”.  Just as the invention of the mouse and the GUI (graphical user interface) revolutionized computing in the last 3 decades, so to will the gesture technology put into concrete form by Pranav revolutionize computing in the next fee decades.  Check it out.